, 1887-12-18

rage containing little Harry, walking
evidently unmindful of what was passing
around him At the sound of his wife's
sharp voice he lifted his head, and for
the first time saw Mays danger.
Come here, May, this Instant" he
called quickly. But May stopped for a
moment only in her dancing, then whirl-
ing on her foot cast a saucy, defiant
glance at her father.
May, do you hear me?'' he said stern
ly. Come over hcre!' And dropping
the handles of the baby carriage he
started rapidly toward her. May stood
still for an instant, kicking the earth
with her tiny shoes, then started to obey.
AT that moment there was n rattle of
wheels, the quick tramp of a horses feet,
and before the child had passed half the
distance to the walk a horse attached to
an empty, broken carriage came rapidly
around the corner not n dozen rods from
her. The whifflctree of the broken car
riage dashed against the horses heels at
every Jump, and half maddened with
fright. he was tearing down the street at
a furious pace. To spring into the Dad
and catch May in his arms was the work
of an instant; but the horse was close
upon them. and with n shout Richard
threw up his arms almost in its face,
thinking it would naturally turn to the
right, but, on the contrary, the animal in
its mad terror swerved to the left and
struck Richard with full force. In an
instant tho iron hoofs and heavy vehicle
had passed over his PROSTATE body, and
at the next bound the wheels struck the
baby carriage, leaving it wrecked about
the helpless little form. 1t was all over
in n moment, the frightened horse was
dashing madly down the street, and the
three bodies lay apparently ~lifeless in the
road.
SO suddenly had it all happened that
Clarice and Eva had stood as if paralyzed
with horror, then with n quick cry Eva
was out of the house and down the steps.
Reaching the wrecked baby carriage she
lifted her child from amid the debris.
There was n cruel cash at the back of the
head, from which the blood was flowing
freely, while the fair hair, the sweet face
and dainty white garments were stained
with the crimson tide.
The beautiful blue eyes met hers in a
dull, CLASSY stare, there was n culver of
the blue veined lids, a quick gasp, and a
little form lay limp and hfeless in her
arms.
a crowd had rapidly collected and
Richard and May were carefully lifted
and borne into the house, while Eva,
like one bereft Of her senses, silently and
mechanically followed, holding the life
less form of her babe pressed closely to
her breast.
In the middle of the pleasant parlor she
paused and looked with n wild, horror
stricken Countenance from the pallid,
blood stained face upon her breast to the
unconscious forms of her husband and
child upon the sofa. Clarice came to-
ward her, passed her arm about her, and
tried to lead her to n seat. Slowly Eva
turned toward her; then as she seemed
to recognize the friendly, sympathetic
face she cried out in tones of heartrend.
ing agony: 'tOh, Clarico, Clarice! l
have murdered them! 1 wished myself
free, and God has aiken me at my word!''
She staggered, threw ont her hand
blindly and sank in n dead faint in her
friends arms.
Through all that long, sad night she
passed from one fainting fit to another,
tasking all the skill of the medical at
tendants and the kind care of her friend.
She would revive only long enough to
recall the terrible accident; then with n
repetition of her FIRST wild cry--"I have
murdered them!''-would relapse into
another fainting fit, only to repeat the
same over n over, until at last, rs the
morning began to dawn, worn out with
the fearful struggle, she slept the sleep of
utter exhaustion.
When she awakened n few hours later
her friends face greeted her opening
eyes. At first she gazed % i'll be-
wilderment; then, as there came back to
her the scene of the previous evening,
she turned her face to the wall, and the
first tears she had been able to shed fell
freely. Clarice pressed her hand in ten
der sympathy, making no effort to check
her tears, thinking wisely they were nat
uro's best relief for the aching heart and
o~vercharged brain.
After a few moments the tears ceased,
and Eva lay motionless with closed eyes.
only an occasional sob shaking her light
frame.
"Oh, Clarice," she said at last, in bro
ken tones II am most bitterly punished.
1 wanted to be free. and now they are all
gone! | am utterly alone! Oh, my God,
how can / bear it,"
but May is not seriously hurt" Clar-
ice hasteued to explain. ''She was only
ulbS uIlu bluIlltu. lltIt BIC 10 now,
as the mischievous cause of all the trou-
bic, awed and quoted by the strange
scene around her, slipped timidly into the
room.
Eva sprang up with a wild cry, and,
dropping on her knees, caught the child
in her arms. 'tOh, thank God!' she ut
tered fervently, THAT l nave even one
left"
Your husband is alive" Clarice said
softly, laying her hand upon the bowed
head. Eva raised her eyes quickly.
'.Oh, Clarice, say it againl' she cried,
Historically, between smiles and tears.
"'Dick alivel must go TO him." And
she rose to her feet, trembling in every
limb from the reaction of feeling.
Clarice laid her hand gently IN Eva's
arm as she turned to leave the room.
wait one moment, dear. Richard is
very seriously hurt, his head is cut
badly, and one leg is broken. 1t was a
long time before the doctors could re-